Feeding mechanism for arc lights



Oct. 12 1926.

P. MoLE, .JR

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ARG LIGHTS Filed OCT.. 7, 1922 l -3/ v 36 Fig Il Z7 His JfI-t-tomeg.

Patented Oct. l2, 1926.l

UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT 'OFFICE'.

PETER MCLR, JR., oF sCII'nNRCTAnY,I NEW YORK, AssIGNoR To GENERAL ELECTRIC CCMPANY, A CORPORATION CRNRW YORK.

FRRDINC MRCIIANISM RoR ARC LIGHTS.

Application led October 7,41922. Serial No: 593,127.

My invention relates to improvements in arc lamps and to the feeding mechanism thereof. i 1 i Heretofore arc lamps have been made with a feed mechanism in which a star wheel is used, which wheel is operated at Stated intervals. Such a constructionis more or less objectionableinasmuchas the star feed In chanism is not sufficiently rugged and inasmuch as the automatic feed is entirely dependent uponsuch star mechanism. vAs a result, whenever the star mechanism gets into trouble there is no means of continuing the automatic feed of the electrode.

Among the objects of my invention are the following: 4

To supply a constant and continuous feed mechanism; to provide as an auxiliary feed the star automatic feed; to provide as a second `auxiliary ahand feed; and to provide other details of vimprovements tending to increase the -etliciency and the serviceability of an arc lamp and its feeding mechanism.

The means for accomplishing aforegoing and other useful ends are hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawing, Fig. 1 is a view in elevationv and partly 1n section of the device of my invention; Fig. 2 is a View of the same in perspective, and Fig. 3 shows the electrode holder in perspective.

Referring more in particular to Fig. 1,

the positive electrode 2 is shown extending along .the central part of the drawing and the negative electrode 3 is shown at theleft. The positive electrode 2 is held between the jaws 4 and 5 of the electrode holder, which latter is shown in Fig. 3 also.

My invention is especially applicable for `use in connection with an arc lamp in which the positive electrode.2 is rotated during operation. The mechanism for rotating the carbon is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Referring more particularl to Fig. 2, this driving mechanism inclu es a shaft 6 which is driven by the usual source of power. On the upper end of this shaft there 1s provided the pinion 7 which meshes with the beveled gear 8. This gear 8 is ermanently secured to the frame 9 by suitagle screws as shown. Therefore as the gear 8 rotates, the whole frame 9 rotates. On this frame there are mounted shafts 10 and 11. On the shaft' 10 there is provided a gear wheel 12, and on the shaft 11 a starwheel 11a. The shaft 10 is provided with a worm 13 which meshes with the worm gear 14. The gear wheel 14 is on a shaft with -the gear 15 which shaft is jour-4 naled on the jaw-like member 16 which is rsuitably pivoted to the frame 9, one of the pivotall points 17 being shown at the right. Between the gears 14 and l5 and located on the same shaft there is a spo0llike roller 18 which engages the electrode 2; It will be understood/that the gears 14 and 15 and the roller 18 are all rigidly connectedto the same shaft. On the under side of Vthe electrode 2 there is a second jaw 19 similar to the jaw 16 on which there is similarly mounted a second shaft which carries a lgear 20.

The shaft also carries a second roller similar( to the roller 18, engaging the electrode 2 on the under side. These two jaws are normally drawn together by means of astension spring' This gear 22 \is normally held stationary.A

The lresult is that as the frame 9 rotates, the gear 12 must rotate about the gear 22, the vlatter serving as a tread, so to speak, for the gear A.12. The rotation of the gear 12 causes the rotation of the shaft 10 and as a result causes the rotation of the worm 13 and therefore also the rotation of the gear 14. The rotation of the gear 14 causes 1n turn the rotation of the feed roller 18 on the upper side of the electrode and of the corre- Sponding feed roller on the underside of the electrode inasmuclnas the gears 15 and 20 are in engagement and must rotate with the gear 14. Obviously therefore the constant rotation of the frame 9.causes a constant continuous feedy of the electrode 2, which is unlike the const-ant intermittent feed that results when the star wheel type of feed is used.

Sometimesvit occurs that the electrode 2 is consumed faster than it should, due possibly to defective material or workmanship; Un-l der such conditions the continuous feed vis not suflcient to maintain the electrodes 2 and 3 a constant distance apart. To meet 'this situation I have supplemented the conisso related to the star wheel that upon each revolution of the frame 9 the star wheel 11d engages the spring 23. The relation of the spring 23, star wheel 1la and shafts 10 and 11 is such that the rotation of the shafts 10 and 11 are accelerated during the engagement between the spring and the star wheel with the result that the feeding operation of the electrode is accelerated'coriespondingly during the same interval. Obviously therefore once during each revolution of the frame an accelerating feeding impulse is transmitted to the electrode, the magnitude of which is such as to compensate for the increased consumption indicated. It is to be understood that by adjusting the relation of the spring 23 to'the star wheel 11a the magnitude of the additional feed step can be varied and adjusted.

In addition to the continuous feed mechanism and the intermittent automatic feed mechanism the device of Figs. 1 and 2 has a hand-operated feed which may be used whenever it becomes necessary to rapidly advance or draw back the electrode` 2. This mechanism includes the central gear 22. It will be seen that if means are provided for rotating the gear wheel 22 either clockwise or counter-clockwise, viewing the device from left to right, the rotation of the shaft 10 may be accelerated or retarded or in fact reversed. By reversing the rotation of the shaft 10 of course the electrode 2 will be carried backward and by accelerating the rotation of the kshaft 10 the electrode would be accelerated forward. For this reason the gear wheel 22 is mounted on a tub ar shaft 24. On the end of this tubular sha t I provide a knob 25.' "By rotating the knob 25 backward or forward the tube 24 will be similarly rotatedy and consequently the gear 22`wi1l be similarly rotated. Assuming that the frame 9 isnot rotating, it will be lseen that by rotating the knob 25 the gear 12 will be rotated and consequently the electrode 2 will be operated. The direction in which the electrode 2 will be moved will depend upon the direction in which the knob 25 is rota ted. From what has already been stated it will be seen that the knob 25 can be operated either while the frame 9 is rotating or while it is stationary. In order to prevent the wheel 22 from rotating under normal operating conditions, that is, while the automatic ALeerweg.

'have pivotally mounted a lever 27. This lever is provided with a spring member 28 which engages a groove 29 in the collar 30, which is mounted on the tube 24. This lever 27 is given counterclockwise tension by the spring 31. The result is that the spring 28 is pressed against the forward or right-liand side of the collar 30 in the groove 29. The tube 24 is prevented from sliding to the right, as the result of this tension, by the collar 32 on theleft-hand end of the tube, the face of which collar is arranged to strike against the frame member 33. Not only is the lever 27 used for the purpose of holding the tube 24 stationary, but I make use of it in the following connection: The collar 32 as will be seen from the drawing is beveled on the left-side andis located to the right of y the rollers 34` and 35, which rollers are mountedrespectively on the jaws 16 and 19. By pressing the handle 36 of the lever 27 down, the tube 24 is caused to slide to the left with the result that the collar 32 engages the rollers 34 and 35, separating the jaws 16 and 19, causing the electrode roller 18 011 the upper side and the corresponding `lower roller to'idisengage and free the electrode.

It will thus be seen that I provide means for controlling the feed in three different ways. This mechanism enables me to provide a constant continuous feed automatically operated and a constant intermittent feed automatically operated which may be brought into play or not as the occasion demands in connection with and as an auxiliary to the continuous feed. In addition I have a hand-controlled feed arrangement which works independently of the automatic feed mechanisms. The advantages of the new device of my invention are that it is more feasible than similar prior devices. Furthermore, my device is more reliable inasmuch as the automatic feed is not altogether dependent upon the star feed mechanism and therefore upon the star operating spring, which latter is the source of considerable trouble inasmuch as it is liable to get out of adjustment and to break from time to time. In my device if the spring 23 that operates the star wheel breaks, I can still maintain an automatic feed and also maintain an auxiliary compensatin feed operation through the medium and Iiy the use of the hand feed arrangement. Therefore `I provide primarily an automatic continuous feed for the electrode. Associated with this is the auxiliary constant intermittent feed arrangement, and auxiliary to bot-h and also independent of either is the hand feed arf- `make use of a planetary gear arrangement for operating the primary kvfeed. I also 'make use of the planetary mechanism for .x the intermittent feed.

` What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. In combination with an arc lamp, a feed mechanism for onefof the electrodes for continually feeding the electrode, said feed mechanism.comprisinga planetary gear system, the electrode mounted' to rotate with the moving portion of thefplanetary system, a central gear y about which the planetary 'system revolves and with which the planetary system is in, engagement,

power driven means for rotating the planetary system whereby the electrode may be rotated, and means for'rotating said central gear for feeding the electrode independently of said driving power.

2. In a feeding mechanism for an arc lamp electrode, means for uninterruptedly feeding theelectrode, and means also for automatically varying the rate of feeding of the electrode, said last mentioned ymeans be'- ing under the periodic mechanica-l the said'irst means.

k3. In a feeding mechanism for an arc lamp electrode, means. for uninterruptedly feeding the elect-rode, said 4means comprising a gear and a gear tread, means for movcontrol of y ing the gear with respect to the tread to uninterruptedly feed the electrode, and means independent of said first means for moving the tread with respecty to the gear for varying the rate of feed.J s

4. In a feeding mechanism for an arc lamp electrode, means for uninterruptedly feeding the electrode, said means comprisingaY gear and a gear tread, means'for moving the gear with respect to the tread to uninterruptedly feed the electrode, and means independent of Said first means for moving the tread with respect to thev gear for varying rthe rate of feed, the operation of the means for moving the tread being the motion of the said gear.

5. In al feeding mechanism vfor an arc lamp electrode, means for uninterruptedly feeding t-he electrode, said means comprising a gear and a gear tread, means for moving the gear with respect to the tread to uninterdependent upon ruptedly feed the electrode, and means independent of said firstmeans for moving the tread with respect to the gear for varying the rate of feed, the means for moving the tread being so related -to the said gear that the former is operated periodically as a result of the movement of theI latter.

6. In combination with an arc lamp, a feed mechanism fo'i` one of the electrodes for continually feedingvthe electrode, said feed mechanism comprising 'a planetary gear system, the electrode mounted to rotate with the system is in engagement, power driven means for rotating the planetary system whereby the electrode may be rotated, and means for rotating saidv central gear for feeding the electrode independently of said driving power, said feed mechanism including also an automatic intermittent feed. 7. In vcombination with an arc lamp, a feed mechanism for one of the electrodes for continually feeding the electrode, said feed mechanism comprising a planetary gear system, said feed mechanism including also an automatic intermittent feed, said intermittent feed mechanism` included in said planetary system.

8. \In combination with an arc lamp, a feed mechanism for one of the electrodes for continually feeding the electrode, said feed mechanism comprising a planetary gear system, the electrode mounted to rotate with 9. In combination with an arc lamp, av

feed mechanism for one of the electrodes for continually feeding the electrode, said feed mechanism comprising a planetary gear system, the electrode mounted to rotate with the moving portion of the planetary system, a central gear about which the planetary system revolves and with which the planetary system is in engagement, said vplanetary system being power driven and means or rotating said central gear for feeding the electrode independently ofsaid driving power, the mounting mechanism for the electrode including a vgripping mechanism, a mounting for said central gear, a collar on said mounting and a device engaging said mounting andoperable to prevent said central gear from rotating and also^for operating said collar, said4 cam as* adapted to befed when the elements of the systemv are rotated, means for rotating the planetary system as a Whole about the central gear to rotate' the electrode and to cause the rotation of the said elements of the Isystem tofeed the electrode, and means :for rotating the central gear to rotate the elements of the system independently of the rotation of the system for varying the rate of feed of the electrode. i

1l. In a feeding mechanism for an are lamp electrode, a central gear, a planetary gear system having rotating elements, said system adapted to rotate as a Wholelabout the central gear, an electrode held by the said elements of the planetary'system and adapted to rotate with the system and also adapted to be ed when the elements of the system are rotated, means for rotating the planetary system as a whole about the central gear to rotate the electrode and to cause the rotation of the said elements of the system to feed the electrode, and means for rotating the central gear to rotate the elements of the system independently of thei rotation of the system for varying the rate of feed of the electrode, said last means brought into operation periodically as a result of the rotation of the said system.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of October, 1922.

PETER MoLE, JR. 

